South Africa won first T20I in Super Over.
South Africa captain Faf du Plessis on Tuesday, 19 March, delighted at a “big risk” of handing over the gloves to David Miller as that paid off in the thrilling super over T20 International against Sri Lanka at Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town.
In a super thrilling series opener of the three-match T20I series in Cape Town, it was Miller who made difference in the encounter especially with his "near-perfect" work behind the stumps on Tuesday.
It was for the first time on Tuesday when Miller played as a designated wicket-keeper in Cape Town, where the left-hander not only struck 41 off 23 balls before striking a six and a four off Lasith Malinga in the Super Over, but also took a catch off Dale Steyn to dismiss opener Niroshan Dickwella, and then stumped Kamindu Mendis off Imran Tahir’s ball to help the Proteas side to win the first T20I by 9 runs here.
Speaking to media at post-match press conference, Du Plessis said, “We back David with the gloves and we are working with him behind the scenes. We need to explore our options as a squad, and him as wicket-keeper is one of them. He had a near-perfect day behind the stumps.”
On his new role and his show in Cape Town, Miller said, “It wasn't a shock, but a lot of excitement and emotion. It's a new challenge that I've been asked to do, and I'm not going to turn down," he told reporters. "It's not 'natural'. I've been 'keeper in the past when growing up, but [that's] not professional cricket. [I'm] as comfortable as I can feel. I've prepped pretty well.”
Miller was also satisfied with his efforts with the bat, although, he lost his wicket at a crucial time during South Africa’s innings of 134/8 before winning the super over by 9 runs against Sri Lanka.
He signed off by saying, “It was a tough wicket at the end. It was a serious collapse we did have, but saying that, they bowled really well with the slower balls and I don't think we adapted well enough. In the end, we were lucky to get into the Super Over. But the last two-three overs ebbed and flowed.”
(With ICC Inputs)